Tortured Mate (Sassy Ever After Universe #62)(14)
Rogue scowled as he listened to the two of them go back and forth. Why in the hell did she need a cake made now and why did it have to be done in secret? What was this crazy ass woman up to now? He knew it couldn’t be good for some unlucky bastard out there.
Chapter Eleven
Valac gaped, “Wait you’re telling me that you two met over a dead body? Really, that’s awesome. What a story to tell your kids and grandkids someday.”
West chuckled, “It wasn’t funny to me. I’ll tell you what, it’s the first and I hope the last time someone tosses me a pick-up line next to a corpse. I’ll say one thing though, it sure worked. Couldn’t get the ass out of my head after that.”
“So, you didn’t know you were mates then?”
“Hell no. I knew of shifters, but I didn’t really know any or at least I didn’t realize I knew any I should say. I had no clue about any of that, let alone that constant craving I had to be near him was because I was his mate. One thing I did know, as soon as I heard his voice for the first time, I knew he was going to be mine.”
Rook rolled his eyes, “Never would have guessed he’s a bit of a hopeless romantic, would you. But he is, go figure.”
“And my brother met Brogan while helping you track the killer down right?”
Both men shared a smile before nodding. “Jericho knew he wanted Brogan the minute he saw him. Brogan, on the other hand, was skeptical of the whole thing.” Rook explained.
“More like in denial.” West countered.
The three men bantered back and forth for a couple of hours, laughing, talking and generally enjoying each other’s company. After they left, Valac paced the house looking for something to occupy his mind. Aeron was getting louder, his threats more menacing and now they extended to Rogue too. How his brother knew of the wolf and why he was signaling him out, Valac didn’t know or understand. It didn’t matter though, there was no way Aeron was getting near Rogue.
On one of his endless marches through the house, he suddenly found himself in front of a bookshelf scanning the collection of items and books there. He didn’t know why he’d stopped. His mind was too consumed to be able to read. Valac had felt a pull deep in his stomach, like a gravitational force pulling him closer and closer until he’d found himself standing there with no recollection of how or why.
He saw crystals of varying size and colors, jars of herbs and other ingredients, candles of all colors and books all thrown haphazardly together in what could only be called an organized mess.
“Find anything interesting?” Cadence whispered from beside him.
Valac jumped and turned to look at her in surprise. “I’m sorry, I didn't hear you.”
“I called your name a couple of times, you’ve been standing here staring for fifteen minutes. What’s caught your eye?”
He looked back at the shelves and shrugged, “I don’t know. Something here keeps calling to me, but I don’t know what it is or what it wants.”
“Maybe the magic. Its energy could be calling to you. My altar to the Goddess Hekate is here as well.”
“You worship a Goddess?” Valac repeated slowly in confusion.
“Have you never heard of her? She’s our patron Goddess. Have you never met her? She’s said to dwell in Hell with Persephone. She’s the Goddess of Witchcraft among other things.”
Valac was stunned, how had he not known of her. Surely someone would have known and told him about her, or her about him. Were his powers so insignificant that he couldn’t entice her to search him out in her own domain?
“It would seem we have a lot of things to discuss. She is a powerful ally for our kind.” Cadence sighed, “but first we have guests.”
That was odd. People had come and gone since he’d been there, but none had elicited quite that tone in her voice. She sounded giddy with girlish glee. It truly petrified him to no end. “Guests, to see me?” He queried as he followed her towards the front of the small cabin.
He stumbled to a stop as soon as he entered the room and caught a glimpse of the most beautiful creature he’d ever laid eyes on. Tall with muscle definition that made his mouth water, penetrating sea blue eyes in a face sculpted in perfection. He couldn’t even begin to form a thought. All of his blood had flown south leaving him with a massive erection that was sure to be obvious to anyone who cared to look.
“I’m so excited to meet you.” A voice said startling Valac out of his single-minded focus. He glanced at the woman standing next to the Adonis for the first time noticing her. “I’ve heard so much about you. My name is Barbara Wolfe, my husband Tristan is the Alpha of the Wolfe pack. You’ve met a few of our pack, Rogue, Rook, West, Brogan and of course your brother Jericho.”
He nodded in dumbfounded astonishment as he tried to pay attention to her, but his eyes kept drifting back to the beautiful man beside her of their own volition. “Yes, of course. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“I’ve brought you a welcome to the area present. I hope you like cake?” She asked with a twinkle in her eyes that left him slightly nervous as he reached out to take the box she extended to him.
“I’m not sure if I’ve ever had it to be honest. It’s not something we get from where I’m from as you can imagine. Thank you for the kindness, and thank you for all you and your pack have done for me.”